Weaning can be a stressful time on cattle operations, as calves are separated from mother cows. It’s a natural process, but ranch realities require it be herd coordinated and sped up from what would occur in nature. While much of the animal welfare research related to weaning has focused on calf stress and its implications…
By the Beef Cattle Research Council For Tyler and Nancy Haraga, March 10, 2018, will forever stand out in their minds. “It was forty below with four to five feet of snow,” recalls Tyler. It had been a brutal winter, with unrelenting cold and record snowfall that persisted into March and spring simply refused to…
Researchers at the University of Calgary are studying invasive wild pig interactions with livestock, and they’re looking for information from beef producers. If you’ve observed wild pigs interacting with your livestock, the researchers want to hear from you. Complete the survey here More information on this research can be found below:
On a beautiful day in early October, 35 teachers from around Alberta gathered in the warm sunshine on W.A. Ranches, just west of Calgary. On a hillside surrounded by crop fields, the teachers had a terrific view of the sliver of native grassland that remains in the coulee around Skull Lake. It was a perfect…
The Government of Alberta is investing over $67 million over three years to support enrolment and infrastructure expansions at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). “Agriculture is a key pillar of Alberta’s economy. That’s why it is so critical we ensure that livestock have access to the veterinary care that keeps them…
Researchers at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are looking for participation in a survey on spring processing handling and restraining methods. Participants must be legal adults who have participated in at least one spring processing (or branding) in western Canada in the last five years. The survey should take no more than…
Whether calving has already started, or you’re months away, it’s a good time to revisit some behaviour and warning signs that a calving cow or heifer may need attention. There are three stages to parturition (calving). Stage one involves cervix dilation, and must be complete before any pull assist; Stage two begins with the fetal…
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is adding to its repertoire of valuable calving resources. This month, the organization published videos on esophageal feeding (tubing), colostrum management, and dehydration in calves. Calf 911 – The Ins And Outs Of Esophageal Feeding The video quickly summarizes the supplies needed, the McGrath feeder versus the bag feeder,…
By Jennifer Allford, for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine While many large animal veterinarians grew up on a farm surrounded by all sorts of animals, Dr. Michel Lévy, DVM — the recipient of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners (WCABP) Honorary Life Award — did not grow up tending to cattle. In fact, the…
*Update: A $50.00 gift card will be given to the first 10 participants.* Researchers from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are recruiting cow-calf producers to develop an estimate on the cost of an assisted calving for producers. Data collected will be kept confidential, and participating producers will be given a summary of…
Dr. Renate Weller says veterinarians have important role to play in solving ‘big, global challenges’ By Jennifer Allford, for Faculty of Veterinary Medicine So far this week, Dr. Renate Weller, DVM, PhD, has moved into her new office at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, greeted first-year students at the Foothills campus, met with…
A relatively new tapeworm is catching researchers by surprise in Alberta, and emphasizing the importance of zoonotic diseases. “It’s really too soon to predict where this might go, but there are several reasons to think that there will be more cases diagnosed in the future,” says Dr. Stan Houston, infectious disease expert at the University…
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